Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Why It's Really Helpful to Read Your Book Aloud

We all (I think I can safely say all) feel silly reading our writing aloud. Especially if one's spouse/child/roommate is sitting there smirking and/or laughing their ass off. However, I completely value the importance of it. And reading really quickly under your breath doesn't count.

So, if you are wise enough to read your book aloud, slowly and carefully as if you were reading in a public setting, you might discover things like glaring errors from when you edited the heck out of your first chapter fifty million times and accidentally removed a reference to an object on the first page that then abruptly and nonsensically appears and makes no sense whatsoever on the second page. It would also help you avoid run-on sentences like that one.

Of course, it's extremely helpful, dandy even, if you read your work aloud and discover this before you submit your manuscript to ten agents, including one that requested a full. Your first request for a full, mind you. However, in the event that you don't discover this before submitting to ten agents including one that requested a full, there are other options involving bullets, rope, cliffs, poison, daggers, mass quantities of alcohol...

*Enormous sigh* So, does anyone else want to share a really embarrassing story?

11 comments:

  1. I use reading my work aloud to straighten out dialogue so it sounds real.

    I have a bunch of embarrassing stories. Which kind do you want? The kind where I wore the wrong sort of outfit to a national electronics show and my former colleagues are still talking about it? If I never hear about the green dress again, it'll be too soon. How about the time I was demonstrating ergonomic tools and told a customer he could screw all day with one?

    Feel better now?

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  2. I don't read my book aloud, but will give it a go this time. I will try reading atleast few chapters loudly.

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  3. Really helps to locate dialogue that sucks as well!

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  4. I've submitted only to find a massive error like that after submission too! I had changed my character's name and missed a few spots where I need to change it! Ugh. I'm a huge believer in reading out loud too. It's now an integral part of my editing process.

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  5. Ack, sorry to hear that! Reading aloud does help, but I'm all about the reading quickly under your breath ;) Where are your critique partners? They are great for catching those glaring errors.

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  6. I don't feel silly, at all. I love it. In fact, we read out loud to each other all the time. It's great stuff. And before I married a writer, I used to read into a tape recorder, or at critique group.

    It's good stuff.

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  7. I love reading out loud...not necessarily my work, though. I agree that it's extremely helpful, it just feels really weird, haha

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  8. Yep, yep, great advice. I hate to take the time and effort to do it (I always end up with a sore throat), but you're right--is IS worth it!! I will have to do that after my current revisions are done.

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  9. I'm planning on doing this when I finish up revisions! I know I'll catch all sorts of wonderful errors. :)

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  10. I read mine aloud and then use a text to voice programme to listen. It is amazing what is picked up and needs editing.

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